stories mystery manatee downhill

books:

80 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Grand Central Publishing, 2005

Get everything he writes!
This is the first of the Hiaasen books with his character, Skink. Once you meet Skink, you will need to read all of the books with him in it. Read them in order as it's fun to watch the characters develop. I reread them often.

Skinny Dip

317 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Grand Central Publishing, 2006

Fun and interesting reading
If you have ever wanted to get even with an ex-boy friend or ex-husband, this book will give you some laughs. Although Chaz does enough damage to himself with his own stupidity. Mick Stanahan helps Joey understand why her husband Chaz tried to kill her. Then there is Ricca the hairdresser and Chaz's sidekick, who ends up with a thirty-eight-caliber hole in her leg and dumped in the swamp only ...

Skin Tight

87 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Grand Central Publishing, 2005

funny Floridian capers
Of the two Hiaasen books I've read so far, I rate this a slight notch below Stormy Weather. This book is still very funny and highly entertaining, but Stormy Weather brings the level of wackiness to even more extreme heights. For some reason, the character I found most memorable here is Chemo, the guy with the messed up face and somewhat of a penchant for violence. Mick Stranahan, as a man's ...

Basket Case

9 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Mysterious Press, 2005

Darkly funny and wildly entertaining
Other than "Team Rodent" I had never read a Hiaasen novel until this one. I had always heard good things and had listened to him compared to many of my favorite authors. Last night I read Basket Case (actually I finished it... I started it yesterday). Now that I have finally read a Hiaasen novel, I must say, I absolutely loved it. First, it takes place in my home state of Florida, which I ...

The Downhill Lie: A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport

23 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Knopf, 2008

You will relate to this guy!
This book is one of the best golf related books I have ever read. I could not put it down! The author was so normal and honest and real that if you are a golfer who started playing golf again at an older age (40's) then you will really relate to his story. It is funny and just a great summer read!

Nature Girl

142 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Grand Central Publishing, 2007

Rip roaring fun!
Carl Hiaasen is one very entertaining guy!! I really enjoyed "Nature Girl" though I personally don't think it is as strong as some of his other books. However, the characters and situations are absolutely hilarious and it is a well worth reading if you enjoy his berserk sense of humour, which I do! Honey Santana may or may not be a complete psychotic, however she is a woman on a mission - to ...

Double Whammy

70 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Grand Central Publishing, 1989

An Easy Read
Miami private eye R.J. Decker is hired to prove that the fishing tour's leading prizewinner is cheating. When the champ is murdered, Decker himself becomes the prime suspect. Realizing that he's been framed by his client, the detective sets out to clear himself with the help of a renegade police detective and a backwoods recluse. There is some strong language as usual.

Flush

112 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2007

Flush
Carl Hiaasen did a great job including every thing a good book should have; mystery, tense moments, and tons more!!! When Noahs dad sinks a boat because he supects the owner of illegal dumping and then gets put in jail he leaves Noah to find out if the owner of the Coral Queen (the boat his dad sunk) is really illegally dumping. It's a dangerous job, one of the owners "body gaurds/goons" is ...

Stormy Weather

77 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Grand Central Publishing, 2001

Skink for President!
[...] When I first read this book, it was back when it had the flamingo on the cover, so it has been awhile. But my opinion about the book has not changed. Having gone through Hurricane Andrew in Homestead, this book touched more than a nerve. Only those that have dealt with tragedy like this, from both Mother Nature and humans, truly understand the heart-ache and anger that is felt. It's ...

Hoot

479 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Yearling, 2006

PCE Student Review
I liked Hoot by Carl Hiassen because it proves that if you put your mind to something you can accomplish it and it's about kids saving endangered owls. The other reason I liked about the book were the characters. They were interesting. My favorite character was Beatrice. I liked this character because she was very determined to save the owls. I would recommend this book for kids 10 and over. ...

Sick Puppy

223 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Vision, 2001

What a hoot!
It's no secret to my friends that I am a HUGE Hiaasen fan. This is my favorite book of all time. If you are a dog lover, an environmentalist, hate southern politics, like bizarre characters or just plain like to laugh out loud, then buy this book. I only wish Hiaasen would visit Guam, he would have plenty of character inspiration.

The Best American Mystery Stories 2007 (The Best American Series (TM))

3 reviews

Houghton Mifflin, 2007

Always a Winner
The Best American Mystery Stories series is always one of the year's highlights and the 2007 collection is dark, edgy, innovative and exciting. Many old favorites are onhand but so are many new and exciting writers. Is some of the subject matter disturbing? Absolutely! From animal killing to soccer-mom prostitutes, this is a collection that doesn't play it safe. Yet the consistancy of quality is ...

Team Rodent : How Disney Devours the World

102 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Ballantine Books, 1998

A Review from someone who has LIVED in FL
Before you spend $9 on this book you need to know that it's less than 100 pages. This is not so much a book but a critical essay. Many Disney lovers have obviously read and reviewed this book and written scathing reviews, you will notice that most of these reviewers live far away from the Disney machine. I grew up in Florida and lived for 4 years of it in Orlando, less than 20 minutes from ...

Naked Came the Manatee

50 reviews
Carl Hiaasen, Dave Barry; et al.

Ballantine Books, 1998

The Bare Facts!
I found Naked Came The Manatee to be an enjoyable read. I liked the different writing styles that wove the storyline together. I borrowed the book from our local library and liked it enough to buy my own copy. It was interersting and entertaining. The reason I gave it four stars was because I thought Dave Barry's first chapter, though good, was a little too chock full of detail. Although I have ...

Native Tongue

56 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Grand Central Publishing, 2005

There's a method behind the madness
This is not necessarily a typical book by this author. Although it has the usual strange and demented characters, there's a serious purpose hidden under all the fun happenings. That is, the author laments the passing of the Florida ecosystem to developers, and he is particularly aiming at Disney, although the book doesn't come right out and say it. Even without keeping in mind the somber ...

Powder Burn

2 reviews
Carl Hiaasen, Bill Montalbano

Vintage, 1998

Drugs and Murder in Miami
A shadowy figure with immense power and money decides to take over the cocaine trade in Miami. It requires, of course, killing his rivals. Chris Meadows, a young, Miami architect, is only dimly aware of the drug trade until an old girlfriend and her child are accidentally killed before his eyes by hitmen. Worse, he can identify the killers, so he becomes their target. When a police detective ...

Basket Case

154 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Grand Central Publishing, 2003

Every bit as good as his other ones
I think everyone has missed the boat about Carl Hiaasen. Why does Carl write these books? Because he can - sure. Because he can use the money - well, natch. But also, I believe, because he really, seriously wants to alert the country to some important things he believes in. And his particular talent - writing wonderfully readable thrillers loaded with comedy - is a way to reach the ...

Lucky You

123 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Vision, 1998

Hilarious!
Grange, Florida is a small, out-of-the-way community known for its religious miracles, from the weeping Madonna to the stigmata man with holes in his palms that do not heal. Not to mention the road stain in the form of Jesus and the woman who visits every day in her wedding dress. And now, one of their own, JoLayne Lucks, has won one-half of the state's lottery of $28 million. JoLayne works ...

Strip Tease

52 reviews
Carl Hiaasen

Vision, 1994

Not sexy, but still sexy - Much better than the movie!
Synopsis:***Spoiler warning*** Ex-FBI employee Erin Grant is an exotic dancer. She lost her job because her ex-husband is a felon. Their divorce costs Erin her daughter because the self-righteous judge believes her daughter is better off with Erin's stolen-wheelchair dealing, speed-popping father than with her dancer mother. The judge is one of Erin's most ardent fans. The story starts when ...

Trap Line

6 reviews
Carl Hiaasen, Bill Montalbano

Vintage, 1998

Trap Line
If you want to recall past days and exploits in Key West in the 70's or just read a good paced novel with insight into how it used to be before the t-shirts and buffet wanna-be's got there; try Trap Line...Carl got around in his younger days. Glad I stumbled over this old book.Now well see how Powder Burn goes.

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